Secure control of self-encrypting storage devices

ABSTRACT

Generally, this disclosure provides systems, devices, methods and computer readable media for secure control of access control enablement and activation on self-encrypting storage devices. In some embodiments, the device may include a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a secure access control module. The secure access control module may include a command processor module configured to receive a request to enable access controls of the NVM from a user, and to enable the access controls. The secure access control module may also include a verification module configured to verify a physical presence of the user. The secure access control module may further include an encryption module to encrypt at least a portion of the NVM in response to an indication of success from the verification module.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to self-encrypting storage devices, andmore particularly, to self-encrypting storage devices with securecontrol of access control enablement and activation.

BACKGROUND

Storage drives, for example solid state drives (SSDs) or hard diskdrives (HDDs), are often configured to provide security featuresincluding self-encryption and access control. These security featuresare designed to prevent a data breach in the event of physical loss ortheft of the storage drive or the device containing the drive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of embodiments of the claimed subject matterwill become apparent as the following Detailed Description proceeds, andupon reference to the Drawings, wherein like numerals depict like parts,and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top level system diagram of an example embodimentconsistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one example embodiment consistentwith the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of operations of one example embodimentconsistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of operations of another exampleembodiment consistent with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a system diagram of a platform of another exampleembodiment consistent with the present disclosure.

Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with referencebeing made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives,modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilledin the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Security features provided by storage devices may typically be enabledor disabled by the manufacturer in a fixed manner. It would generally bedesirable, however, to provide a capability that allows the end user toenable or disable these types of security features, for example througha software configurable device setting, without compromising theintegrity of the drive. This would avoid the requirement for a user topurchase different devices depending on their security needs andsimplify the logistics for manufacturers and suppliers who wouldotherwise need to manage separate product lines. Providing a userenable/disable capability, however, may present a security threat sincea malicious attacker could potentially enable the security featureremotely and take ownership of the drive by setting new access controlauthentication credentials. This would lock out the legitimate user, whomay not even be aware that security is enabled on the drive.

Generally, this disclosure provides systems, devices, methods andcomputer readable media for secure control of access control enablementand activation on self-encrypting storage devices. In one embodiment,the storage device may include a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a secureaccess control module. The secure access control module may beconfigured to process commands received from a user or host systemincluding a request to enable access controls of the NVM. The secureaccess control module may further be configured to verify a physicalpresence of the user. Physical presence of the user may be verified byrequiring the user to provide the Physical Security Identifier (PSID)associated with the storage device, which can generally be obtained in alimited manner, such as, for example, by reading a physical label on thestorage device. The secure access control module may further beconfigured to allow the user to activate and provision access controlsif the physical presence verification is successful and after a revertoperation is performed.

The secure access control module may further include an encryptionmodule configured to encrypt at least a portion of the NVM when accesscontrols have been activated. The NVM may include or otherwise beconfigured as a Solid State Drive (SSD) or magnetic disk in a Hard DiskDrives (HDD). Any suitable method of encryption may be used including,for example, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), the Data EncryptionStandard (DES) and the International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA).In some embodiments, the enablement of access controls may be consideredan initialization or set-up activity of the storage device, to beperformed by the user/owner of the storage device during an initialphase of deployment.

As used herein, the terms “enablement,” “activation,” and“provisioning,” with respect to access controls, are defined as follows.Regarding “enablement,” the access control capabilities of the devicemay be supported (embedded in hardware or software of the device, by themanufacturer) but remain in a disabled or hidden state until enablementis performed. After a successful enablement, activation may be performedto turn on the access controls so that portions of the NVM are encryptedor otherwise locked for security. Activation may also be accompanied byprovisioning which is an operation to configure the access controls(e.g., provide additional authentication credentials for administratorsand/or users and specify regions of the NVM for encryption, etc.).

FIG. 1 illustrates a top level system diagram 100 of one exampleembodiment consistent with the present disclosure. A host system 104 isshown coupled to a self-encrypting storage device with secure controlcapability 110. The secure control capability of the storage device willbe described in greater detail below. In some embodiments, the hostsystem 104 may be, for example, a desktop computer, workstation, laptopcomputer, convertible tablet, notebook, smart phone, smart tablet,personal digital assistant (PDA) or mobile Internet device (MID).

The host system 104 may be coupled to the storage device 110 throughinterface modules 108 a, 108 b and storage bus 130, which may beconfigured as a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interface,a Serial Attached Small Computer System (SAS) Interface or a PeripheralComponent Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface, a Universal FlashStorage (UFS) interface, an embedded Multimedia Controller interface(eMMC) or any other suitable type of interface. The SATA and SASinterfaces may comply with ANSI standards managed by T13 (www.t13.org)and T10 (www.t10.org) technical committees. The PCIe interface maycomply with the PCISIG standard (www.pcisig.com). The UFS and eMMC maycomply with the JEDEC standards (www.jedec.org). The storage device 110described in this disclosure may be configured as a solid state drive(SSD). In some embodiments, the storage device 110 may include hard diskdrive (HDD).

An intended or legitimate user 102 may access the storage device 110through the host system 104 and interface 108 and bus 130. Similarly, aremote attacker or malicious user 106 may attempt to access the storagedevice 110 and attempt to enable access controls (and self-encryption ofthe device) to the detriment of the intended user 102. The securecontrol capability of the storage device 110 may be configured, however,to defeat such attempts, as will be described below.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram 200 of one example embodimentconsistent with the present disclosure. The storage device 110 is shownto include a secure access control module 204, a storage device sideinterface module 108 b and an NVM 220.

The storage device 110 and/or the secure access control module 204 maybe configured to implement, comply with, or otherwise be compatible withthe Opal Storage Specification: “TCG Storage Security Subsystem Class:Opal,” Specification Version 1.00, Feb. 4, 2010 of the Trusted ComputingGroup (TCG), including current, previous and future versions of thatspecification. The storage device 110 may also be referred to as a“Trusted Peripheral” in Opal terminology. Although operations will bedescribed here in the context of Opal, it will be appreciated that thesetechniques may be applied to other similarly purposed storage devicesecurity systems.

The secure access control module 204 is shown to include a commandprocessor module 212, a verification module 214, an encryption module216, a random number generator 218 and storage for a Security Identifier(SID) 206, PSID 208 and a Manufacturer Security Identifier (MSID) 210.

The command processor module 212 may be configured to receive requestsfrom a user or host system including a request to enable or disable thesecure access control features of the NVM 220. Any required encryptionor decryption of one or more portions (e.g., address ranges) of the NVM220 may be performed by encryption module 216 as appropriate. Thecommand processor module 212 may also be configured to receive theassociated verification credentials (SID, PSID, etc.) that may berequired from the user for these operations. Verification module 214 maybe configured to perform the verification operations, as will bedescribed below, to verify the credentials and physical presence of theuser.

In some embodiments, a software application is provided by themanufacturer or an independent software vendor to send the appropriateconfiguration commands as specified in the TCG Opal spec to the storagedevice. In an embodiment, the software application issues a sequence ofcommands, called methods in the TCG specifications, to performconfiguration and provisioning operations. Prior to initiating asession, the software application invokes the Level 0 discovery commandand Properties method to determine the capabilities of the secure accesscontrol module 204 (e.g., the OPAL security subsystem).

The StartSession method is used by the software application to initiatea communications session between the host system 104 and the storagedevice 110. This method can also pass a credential, such as the PSID orSID, to the storage device for authentication. The storage device isconfigured to authenticate the credential and responds with success ifthe credential is successfully authenticated.

After successful authentication of the SID credential and initiation ofa session, the software application invokes the Activate method, whichis used to activate the locking and encryption management functionalitysupplied by the Opal subsystem in the storage device. The session isthen ended by the software application.

Once locking and encryption management have been activated, the softwareapplication invokes StartSession to initiate a new session andauthenticate an Admins credential, in order to satisfy access controlrequirements necessary to perform configuration and provisioningoperations, such as setting User passwords and access controls.

The software application invokes the Get method in a session, in orderto retrieve metadata from tables in the subsystem, which are datastructures employed to store configurations and metadata. The softwareapplication invokes the Set method in a session to configure Users andAdmins passwords, and configure the device to lock when the device powercycles.

The MSID 210 is an identifier, for example an alphanumeric value, whichis used as a default credential for the storage device. The MSID 210 isencoded or otherwise stored in a reserved location in non-volatilememory that is outside of the region of encrypted data of thenon-volatile memory of the storage device 110. The MSID is accessed by auser/host system through the interface 108 through an appropriate set ofcommands. Generally, the MSID, once set by the manufacturer, cannot bechanged by the user.

The SID 206 is a security identifier, for example an alphanumeric value,or credential that is associated with the owner or legitimate user ofthe storage device 110. The SID 206 is typically initialized by themanufacturer to a default value that is set to the MSID 210 and cansubsequently be changed by the user to enforce access controls on thedevice 110. The SID 206 can also be stored in a non-volatile memory ofthe storage device, for example, outside of the region of encrypteddata.

The PSID 208 is a physical security identifier, for example analphanumeric value, or credential that is associated with and unique tothe storage device 110. In an embodiment, the PSID 208 can be generatedby the manufacturer and stored in a non-volatile memory of the storagedevice that is inaccessible through the interface 108. In other words,the PSID 208 cannot be read or otherwise discovered by any entityexternal to the device 110 through any electronic method. The PSID 208can, however, be printed on a label attached to the device 110, orotherwise made available, for example through some visual method, to auser located in physical proximity to the device 110. In someembodiments, the PSID is printed or otherwise visually accessible on thehousing of the storage device 110 or on a housing of a system withinwhich storage device 100 is incorporated. A remote attacker 106 cantherefore be prevented from obtaining the PSID 208. The PSID is thusused to verify a physical presence of the device owner or legitimateuser 102, for example prior to enablement of the self-encryptionfeature.

It will be appreciated that the term “physical presence” does notnecessarily require that the intended or legitimate user 102 need alwaysbe locally present in the proximity of the storage device 110. Forexample, physical presence may indicate a one-time presence by the user102 to visually obtain the PSID which may later be used during averification process from a remote location.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of operations 300 of another exampleembodiment consistent with the present disclosure. The operationsprovide a method for secure enablement and activation of access controlson a self-encrypting storage device. At operation 310, a request isreceived to enable self-encryption (e.g., as implemented through Opal).At operation 320, Opal is enabled for the device and a random number orstring (generated for example by random number generator 218) isassigned to the SID for the device, which will no longer be the same asthe MSID. This may prevent any further attempts to alter access controlsettings until the current operation is successfully completed (e.g., bythe intended user 102). The random number generator 218 may implement anon-deterministic random number generation algorithm to reduce theprobability that a remote attacker might predict the random numbervalue.

At operation 330, a request is received for a revert operation, via theTCG Opal Revert method. The requester's physical presence is verified atoperation 340, by supplying a valid PSID associated with the device, viaa TCG method such as StartSession or Authenticate. Because access to thePSID is limited to visual observation of some portion of the device,such as a printed label as described previously, knowledge of the PSIDmay be used to verify the physical presence of the requester. If theverification fails, then at operation 350 the Revert method invocationwill subsequently be denied and the SID remains set to the random value.In some embodiments, an alert may be generated to log the event and/ornotify the legitimate user (e.g., intended user 102) of a failed attemptto enable access controls (Opal).

If the verification succeeds, however, then at operation 360 the revertoperation is performed. At operation 370, as part of the revert, the SIDis reset back to the MSID associated with the device and Opal is left inan enabled state. At this point the user may optionally, activate andprovision Opal, at operation 380, for example through the Activatemethod executed by the software application.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of operations 400 of another exampleembodiment consistent with the present disclosure. The operationsprovide a method for secure control of access control enablement andactivation on a self-encrypting storage device. At operation 410, arequest is received to enable access controls of the storage device. Therequest is received from a user of a host system of the storage device,for example through a software application that requests the storagedevice to enable OPAL security by sending an appropriate sequence ofcommands. The StartSession method is used to initiate a communicationssession and authenticate the SID credential. The Activate method is usedto activate the locking functionality provided by the Opal subsystemimplemented in the storage device. At operation 420, access controls(e.g., OPAL security) are enabled in response to the request. Atoperation 430, the physical presence of the user is verified, forexample by supplying a valid PSID associated with the device as printedon the storage device label. The software application may be configuredto prompt the user to enter the PSID. The user may then enter the PSIDthrough the software application. The software application may send thePSID to the storage device, for example by using the StartSession methodor using the Authenticate method in a session that has already beeninitiated. The storage device verifies the submitted PSID and respondswith the verification result. Because access to the PSID is limited tovisual observation of some portion of the device, such as a printedlabel as described previously, knowledge of the PSID may be used toverify the physical presence of the requester. At operation 440, if thephysical presence verification succeeds, the software applicationinvokes the “Revert” command which resets the SID to MSID and activationof self-encryption of the storage device is then possible, via executionof the Activate method. If the physical presence verification fails,access controls (e.g., OPAL security) may remain in their existing stateand the SID remains set to the random value.

FIG. 5 illustrates a system diagram 500 of one example embodimentconsistent with the present disclosure. The system 500 may be a mobileplatform 510 or computing device such as, for example, a smart phone,smart tablet, personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile Internet device(MID), convertible tablet, notebook or laptop computer, or any othersuitable device. It will be appreciated, however, that embodiments ofthe system described herein are not limited to mobile platforms, and insome embodiments, the system 500 may be a workstation or desktopcomputer. The device may generally present various interfaces to a uservia a display element 560 such as, for example, a touch screen, liquidcrystal display (LCD) or any other suitable display type.

The system 500 is shown to include a host system 104 that may furtherinclude any number of processors 520 and memory modules 530. In someembodiments, the processors 520 may be implemented as any number ofprocessor cores. The processor (or processor cores) may be any type ofprocessor, such as, for example, a micro-processor, an embeddedprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processor (GPU),a network processor, a field programmable gate array or other deviceconfigured to execute code. The processors may be multithreaded cores inthat they may include more than one hardware thread context (or “logicalprocessor”) per core. The memory 530 may be coupled to the processors.The memory 530 may be any of a wide variety of memories (includingvarious layers of memory hierarchy and/or memory caches) as are known orotherwise available to those of skill in the art. It will be appreciatedthat the processors and memory may be configured to store, host and/orexecute one or more user applications or other software modules. Theseapplications may include, but not be limited to, for example, any typeof computation, communication, data management, data storage and/or userinterface task. In some embodiments, these applications may employ orinteract with any other components of the mobile platform 510.

System 500 is also shown to include network interface module 540 whichmay include wireless communication capabilities, such as, for example,cellular communications, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth®, and/orNear Field Communication (NFC). The wireless communications may conformto or otherwise be compatible with any existing or yet to be developedcommunication standards including past, current and future version ofBluetooth®, Wi-Fi and mobile phone communication standards.

System 500 is also shown to include an input/output (IO) system orcontroller 550 which may be configured to enable or manage datacommunication between processor 520 and other elements of system 500 orother elements (not shown) external to system 500.

System 500 is also shown to include a self-encrypting storage devicewith secure control 110, as described previously. Storage device 110 mayfurther include a secure access control module (e.g., Opal) and an NVMas illustrated in FIG. 2. Interface modules 108 a, 108 b may also beprovided to couple the storage device 110 to the host system 104 over astorage bus.

It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the various componentsof the system 500 may be combined in a system-on-a-chip (SoC)architecture. In some embodiments, the components may be hardwarecomponents, firmware components, software components or any suitablecombination of hardware, firmware or software.

Embodiments of the methods described herein may be implemented in asystem that includes one or more storage mediums having stored thereon,individually or in combination, instructions that when executed by oneor more processors perform the methods. Here, the processor may include,for example, a system CPU (e.g., core processor) and/or programmablecircuitry. Thus, it is intended that operations according to the methodsdescribed herein may be distributed across a plurality of physicaldevices, such as, for example, processing structures at severaldifferent physical locations. Also, it is intended that the methodoperations may be performed individually or in a subcombination, aswould be understood by one skilled in the art. Thus, not all of theoperations of each of the flow charts need to be performed, and thepresent disclosure expressly intends that all subcombinations of suchoperations are enabled as would be understood by one of ordinary skillin the art.

The storage medium may include any type of tangible medium, for example,any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, compact diskread-only memories (CD-ROMs), compact disk rewritables (CD-RWs), digitalversatile disks (DVDs) and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor devicessuch as read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) such asdynamic and static RAMs, erasable programmable read-only memories(EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories(EEPROMs), flash memories, magnetic or optical cards, or any type ofmedia suitable for storing electronic instructions.

“Circuitry”, as used in any embodiment herein, may include, for example,singly or in any combination, hardwired circuitry, programmablecircuitry, state machine circuitry, and/or firmware that storesinstructions executed by programmable circuitry. An application or “app”may be embodied as code or instructions which may be executed onprogrammable circuitry such as a host processor or other programmablecircuitry. A module, as used in any embodiment herein, may be embodiedas circuitry. The circuitry may be embodied as an integrated circuit,such as an integrated circuit chip.

Thus, the present disclosure provides systems, devices, methods andcomputer readable media for secure control of access control enablementand activation on self-encrypting storage devices. The followingexamples pertain to further embodiments.

According to Example 1 there is provided a storage device. The devicemay include a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a secure access controlmodule. The secure access control module of this example may include acommand processor module to receive a request to enable access controlsof the NVM, from a user, and to enable the access controls; averification module to verify a physical presence of the user; and anencryption module to allow encryption of at least a portion of the NVMin response to an indication of success from the verification module.

Example 2 may include the subject matter of Example 1, and the secureaccess control module implements Opal Storage Specification accesscontrols.

Example 3 may include the subject matter of Examples 1 and 2, furtherincluding a random number generator to generate a random number andupdate a Security Identifier (SID) associated with the access controlsto the random number.

Example 4 may include the subject matter of Examples 1-3, and theverification of the physical presence of the user is based on receivinga Physical Security Identifier (PSID) from the user, the PSID associatedwith the storage device.

Example 5 may include the subject matter of Examples 1-4, and the PSIDis displayed on a housing of the storage device.

Example 6 may include the subject matter of Examples 1-5, and the PSIDis provided in a visually observable manner in association with thestorage device.

Example 7 may include the subject matter of Examples 1-6, and the secureaccess control module is further to perform a revert operation of thestorage device, if the verification of the physical presence issuccessful.

Example 8 may include the subject matter of Examples 1-7, and the revertoperation restores the SID to a Manufacturer Security Identifier (MSID).

Example 9 may include the subject matter of Examples 1-8, and the secureaccess control module is further to allow configuration of the accesscontrols of the NVM if the verification of the physical presence issuccessful.

Example 10 may include the subject matter of Examples 1-9, and the NVMis a solid state drive (SSD).

Example 11 may include the subject matter of Examples 1-10, and thesecure access control module is further to communicate with a hostsystem through an interface module and a storage bus, the interfacemodule to implement one of a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment(SATA) interface, a Serial Attached Small Computer System (SAS)Interface, a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface,a Universal Flash Storage (UFS) interface and/or an embedded MultimediaController interface (eMMC).

According to Example 12 there is provided a method for secure control ofa storage device. The method may include receiving a request, from auser, to enable access controls of an NVM; enabling the access controlsin response to the request; verifying a physical presence of the user;and allowing activation of self-encryption of the NVM in response tosuccess of the verifying.

Example 13 may include the subject matter of Example 12, and the storagedevice implements Opal Storage Specification access controls.

Example 14 may include the subject matter of Examples 12 and 13, and theenabling of the access controls further includes generating a randomnumber and updating a Security Identifier (SID) associated with theaccess controls to the random number.

Example 15 may include the subject matter of Examples 12-14, and theverifying of the physical presence of the user further includesreceiving a Physical Security Identifier (PSID) from the user, the PSIDassociated with the storage device.

Example 16 may include the subject matter of Examples 12-15, and thePSID is displayed on a housing of the storage device.

Example 17 may include the subject matter of Examples 12-16, and thePSID is provided in a visually observable manner in association with thestorage device.

Example 18 may include the subject matter of Examples 12-17, furtherincluding performing a revert operation of the storage device, inresponse to success of the verifying.

Example 19 may include the subject matter of Examples 12-18, and therevert operation further includes restoring the SID to a ManufacturerSecurity Identifier (MSID).

Example 20 may include the subject matter of Examples 12-19, furtherincluding allowing configuration of the access controls of the NVM inresponse to success of the verifying.

According to Example 21 there is provided a mobile platform. The mobileplatform may include a processor; a display element coupled to theprocessor; and an SSD storage device coupled to the processor. The SSDof this example may include a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a secureaccess control module. The secure access control module of this examplemay include a command processor module to enable access controls of theNVM in response to a request from the processor; a verification moduleto verify a physical presence of a user; and an encryption module toallow encryption of at least a portion of the NVM in response to anindication of success from the verification module.

Example 22 may include the subject matter of Example 21, and the secureaccess control module implements Opal Storage Specification accesscontrols.

Example 23 may include the subject matter of Examples 21-22, and theverification of the physical presence of the user is based on receivinga Physical Security Identifier (PSID) from the user, the PSID associatedwith the storage device.

Example 24 may include the subject matter of Examples 21-23, and thePSID is displayed on a housing of the storage device.

Example 25 may include the subject matter of Examples 21-24, and thesecure access control module is further to perform a revert operation ofthe storage device, if the verification of the physical presence issuccessful.

Example 26 may include the subject matter of Examples 21-25, and therevert operation restores the SID to a Manufacturer Security Identifier(MSID).

Example 27 may include the subject matter of Examples 21-26, and thesecure access control module is further to allow configuration of theaccess controls of the NVM if the verification of the physical presenceis successful.

Example 28 may include the subject matter of Examples 21-27, and thesecure access control module is further to communicate with a hostsystem through an interface module and a storage bus, the interfacemodule to implement one of a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment(SATA) interface, a Serial Attached Small Computer System (SAS)Interface, a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface,a Universal Flash Storage (UFS) interface and/or an embedded MultimediaController interface (eMMC).

Example 29 may include the subject matter of Examples 21-28, and themobile platform is a smart phone, smart tablet, notebook or laptopcomputer.

According to Example 30 there is provided at least one computer-readablestorage medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed bya processor result in the following operations for secure control of astorage device. The operations may include receiving a request, from auser, to enable access controls of an NVM; enabling the access controlsin response to the request; verifying a physical presence of the user;and allowing activation of self-encryption of the NVM in response tosuccess of the verifying.

Example 31 may include the subject matter of Example 30, and the storagedevice implements Opal Storage Specification access controls.

Example 32 may include the subject matter of Examples 30 and 31, and theenabling of the access controls further includes the operations ofgenerating a random number and updating a Security Identifier (SID)associated with the access controls to the random number.

Example 33 may include the subject matter of Examples 30-32, and theverifying of the physical presence of the user further includes theoperation of receiving a Physical Security Identifier (PSID) from theuser, the PSID associated with the storage device.

Example 34 may include the subject matter of Examples 30-33, and thePSID is displayed on a housing of the storage device.

Example 35 may include the subject matter of Examples 30-34, and thePSID is provided in a visually observable manner in association with thestorage device.

Example 36 may include the subject matter of Examples 30-35, furtherincluding the operation of performing a revert operation of the storagedevice, in response to success of the verifying.

Example 37 may include the subject matter of Examples 30-36, and therevert operation further includes the operation of restoring the SID toa Manufacturer Security Identifier (MSID).

Example 38 may include the subject matter of Examples 30-37, furtherincluding allowing configuration of the access controls of the NVM inresponse to success of the verifying.

According to Example 39 there is provided a system for secure control ofa storage device. The system may include means for receiving a request,from a user, to enable access controls of an NVM; means for enabling theaccess controls in response to the request; means for verifying aphysical presence of the user; and means for allowing activation ofself-encryption of the NVM in response to success of the verifying.

Example 40 may include the subject matter of Example 39, and the storagedevice implements Opal Storage Specification access controls.

Example 41 may include the subject matter of Examples 39 and 40, and theenabling of the access controls further includes means for generating arandom number and updating a Security Identifier (SID) associated withthe access controls to the random number.

Example 42 may include the subject matter of Examples 39-41, and theverifying of the physical presence of the user further includes meansfor receiving a Physical Security Identifier (PSID) from the user, thePSID associated with the storage device.

Example 43 may include the subject matter of Examples 39-42, and thePSID is displayed on a housing of the storage device.

Example 44 may include the subject matter of Examples 39-43, and thePSID is provided in a visually observable manner in association with thestorage device.

Example 45 may include the subject matter of Examples 39-44, furtherincluding means for performing a revert operation of the storage device,in response to success of the verifying.

Example 46 may include the subject matter of Examples 39-45, and therevert operation further includes means for restoring the SID to aManufacturer Security Identifier (MSID).

Example 47 may include the subject matter of Examples 39-46, furtherincluding means for allowing configuration of the access controls of theNVM in response to success of the verifying.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used asterms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention,in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalentsof the features shown and described (or portions thereof), and it isrecognized that various modifications are possible within the scope ofthe claims. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all suchequivalents. Various features, aspects, and embodiments have beendescribed herein. The features, aspects, and embodiments are susceptibleto combination with one another as well as to variation andmodification, as will be understood by those having skill in the art.The present disclosure should, therefore, be considered to encompasssuch combinations, variations, and modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage device comprising: a non-volatilememory (NVM); and a secure access control module comprising: a commandprocessor module to receive a request to enable access controls of saidNVM, from a user, and to enable said access controls; a verificationmodule to verify a physical presence of said user; and an encryptionmodule to allow encryption of at least a portion of said NVM in responseto an indication of success from said verification module.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein said secure access control module implements OpalStorage Specification access controls.
 3. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a random number generator to generate a random number andupdate a Security Identifier (SID) associated with said access controlsto said random number.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein saidverification of said physical presence of said user is based onreceiving a Physical Security Identifier (PSID) from said user, saidPSID associated with said storage device.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein said PSID is displayed on a housing of said storage device. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein said secure access control module isfurther to perform a revert operation of said storage device, if saidverification of said physical presence is successful.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein said revert operation restores said SID to aManufacturer Security Identifier (MSID).
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein said secure access control module is further to allowconfiguration of said access controls of said NVM if said verificationof said physical presence is successful.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein said NVM is a solid state drive (SSD).
 10. The system of claim1, wherein said secure access control module is further to communicatewith a host system through an interface module and a storage bus, saidinterface module to implement one of a Serial Advanced TechnologyAttachment (SATA) interface, a Serial Attached Small Computer System(SAS) Interface, a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)interface, a Universal Flash Storage (UFS) interface or an embeddedMultimedia Controller interface (eMMC).
 11. A method for secure controlof a storage device, said method comprising: receiving a request, from auser, to enable access controls of a non-volatile memory (NVM) of saidstorage device; enabling said access controls in response to saidrequest; verifying a physical presence of said user; and allowingactivation of self-encryption of said NVM in response to success of saidverifying.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said storage deviceimplements Opal Storage Specification access controls.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein said enabling of said access controls furthercomprises generating a random number and updating a Security Identifier(SID) associated with said access controls to said random number. 14.The method of claim 11, wherein said verifying of said physical presenceof said user further comprises receiving a Physical Security Identifier(PSID) from said user, said PSID associated with said storage device.15. The method of claim 14, wherein said PSID is displayed on a housingof said storage device.
 16. The method of claim 11, further comprisingperforming a revert operation of said storage device, in response tosuccess of said verifying.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein saidrevert operation further comprises restoring said SID to a ManufacturerSecurity Identifier (MSID).
 18. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising allowing configuration of said access controls of said NVM inresponse to success of said verifying.
 19. A mobile platform comprising:a processor; a display element coupled to said processor; and a solidstate drive (SSD) storage device coupled to said processor, said SSDcomprising: a non-volatile memory (NVM); and a secure access controlmodule comprising: a command processor module to enable access controlsof said NVM in response to a request from said processor; a verificationmodule to verify a physical presence of a user; and an encryption moduleto allow encryption of at least a portion of said NVM in response to anindication of success from said verification module.
 20. The mobileplatform of claim 19, wherein said secure access control moduleimplements Opal Storage Specification access controls.
 21. The mobileplatform of claim 19, wherein said verification of said physicalpresence of said user is based on receiving a Physical SecurityIdentifier (PSID) from said user, said PSID associated with said storagedevice.
 22. The mobile platform of claim 21, wherein said PSID isdisplayed on a housing of said storage device.
 23. The mobile platformof claim 19, wherein said secure access control module is further toperform a revert operation of said storage device, if said verificationof said physical presence is successful.
 24. The mobile platform ofclaim 23, wherein said revert operation restores said SID to aManufacturer Security Identifier (MSID).
 25. The mobile platform ofclaim 19, wherein said secure access control module is further to allowconfiguration of said access controls of said NVM if said verificationof said physical presence is successful.
 26. The mobile platform ofclaim 19, wherein said secure access control module is further tocommunicate with said processor through an interface module and astorage bus, said interface module to implement one of a Serial AdvancedTechnology Attachment (SATA) interface, a Serial Attached Small ComputerSystem (SAS) Interface, a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express(PCIe) interface, a Universal Flash Storage (UFS) interface or anembedded Multimedia Controller interface (eMMC).
 27. The mobile platformof claim 19, wherein said mobile platform is a smart phone, smarttablet, notebook or laptop computer.